Toa Payoh Condo Site Available For Application Under Reserve List

Source : The Business Times, November 3, 2007

THE Housing & Development Board has made a 99-year leasehold condo site at the corner of Lorong 2/3 Toa Payoh available for application under the reserve list.

The 1.4-hectare plot can be developed into a project of about 530 units averaging 1,200 sq ft, property consultants say.

Market watchers suggest the site could attract bids ranging from $450 to $630 per sq ft per plot ratio - a spread that reflects uncertainty after recent market dynamics.

Last week's withdrawal of the deferred payment scheme seems to have made developers cautious, as seen on Thursday when a state tender for a 99-year condo plot behind the Icon in Tanjong Pagar attracted just two bids.

But some observers say Far East Organization could submit a bid that matches the $601 psf per plot ratio it offered in September for a 99-year condo site next to Ang Mo Kio Hub. The $601 psf ppr was a record for suburban condo land.

Knight Frank managing director Tan Tiong Cheng believes a condo on the Toa Payoh site could sell for an average price of about $900 psf at most, considering it would be pitched mostly at HDB upgraders. That works out to a land bid of about $450 psf ppr and a breakeven cost for the project of about $800 psf.

But Sim Lian Holdings director Ken Kuik believes a new condo on the site could sell for an average price of close to $1,000 psf, going by recent launches. He was alluding to strong sales last weekend of freehold Park Natura at Bukit Batok, much further from the city, at an average price of $1,000 psf. The project is being sold on a partial deferred payment scheme.

Mr Kuik reckons the Toa Payoh site could fetch $500 to $550 psf ppr, which would result in a breakeven cost of $850 to $900 psf ppr and a selling price for the new condo of about $950-$1,000 psf.

Another developer reckons Far East, controlled by tycoon Ng Teng Fong, will at least match the $601 psf ppr it offered for the Ang Mo Kio site. 'My gut feel is Far East could bid $620-630 psf ppr this time,' the developer said.

'Because of its size it can get lower construction costs and its architects are known to maximise efficiency, so even at this bid price its breakeven cost may be just above $900 psf.'

The 150,211 sq ft Toa Payoh site is flanked by Kheng Cheng School and the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations Building. It is within walking distance from Braddell MRT Station. The site has a plot ratio of 4.2.

Sites on the reserve list under the Government Land Sales Programme are launched for tender only after an application by a developer who undertakes to pay a minimum price acceptable to the state.